UCLA finally got the news it was waiting for, but it wasn't the news it was hoping for: The NCAA has ruled superstar recruit Shabazz Muhammad is not eligible to compete for the Bruins. At least temporarily.

“The NCAA has finally determined that a violation of the NCAA amateurism rules has occurred involving UCLA freshman guard Shabazz Muhammad and his family," UCLA athletics director Dan Guerrero said in a statement. "As a result, he is ineligible for competition at this time. We are extremely disappointed that the NCAA has made this determination.”

Guerrero said UCLA intends to appeal the decision, which arrived just hours before UCLA christened the renovated Pauley Pavilion Friday night against Indiana State.

The NCAA released a statement late Friday that indicated Muhammad’s circumstance is less dire than Guerrero’s initial statement indicated. The NCAA said Muhammad is ineligible “to compete in tonight’s game” and the organization “is committed to resolving the remaining matters as quickly as possible.”

According to the NCAA, Muhammad was ruled ineligible because he “accepted travel and lodging during three unofficial visits to two NCAA member schools.”

Such violations have cost players games in the past. For instance, John Wall of Kentucky missed one game of his freshman season for accepting travel expenses for unofficial visits.

Muhammad is a 6-6 small forward from Las Vegas who was rated the No. 2 player in the 2012 recruiting class by Scout.com. He chose the Bruins last spring, picking them over Duke and UNLV. Muhammad was a preseason second-team All-American choice by Sporting News, but his potential unavailability caused Sporting News to drop the Bruins from No. 2 in its early ratings to No. 11 in the final preseason rankings.

Muhammad scored 21 points in the McDonald's All-American game and 25 points in the Nike Hoop Summit.

His amateur status first was questioned in a CBS Sports story that detailed a connection between his family and a couple of financial advisers. CBS said the NCAA had warned schools about Muhammad's potential ineligibility.

“The University and our compliance staff have fully cooperated with the NCAA throughout this entire period, and we believe the decision is incorrect and unjust to Shabazz," Guerrero said. "UCLA will expeditiously pursue its options to challenge this determination. When a final resolution has been reached by the NCAA, we will swiftly communicate the news to the entire Bruin family.”

Muhammad is just now getting healthy after missing a couple weeks with a shoulder sprain. Coach Ben Howland says Muhammad, out since Oct. 25, is “real close” to being 100 percent physically.